Evaluation of dahlia cultivars under Aravalli hill conditions of Udaipur

The present investigations were carried out with nine dahlia cultivars in randomized block design with three replications by planting 12 plants per replication. Minimum number of days required for flower bud initiation (81.60 DAT) and bud break (22.40 DAI) were recorded in cv. Jyotsna and complete flower opening (6.30 DAB) was recorded in cv. Korean Yellow. The maximum flowering duration (90.73 days) and maximum freshness of flower (7.73 days) on plant under open field conditions were recorded in cv. NT Pompon. The maximum number of flowers per plant (60.40), flower diameter (19.66 cm) and average weight of flower (62.69 g) were recorded in cvs. NT Pompon, Korean Yellow and Blackout respectively. In cv. NT Pompon, minimum flower diameter (11.20 cm) and flower weight (17.77 g per flower) were recorded. The maximum flower weight per plant (1072.56 g) was recorded in cultivar NT Pompon. On the basis of floral characters, yield and economic parameters cv. NT Pompon was found best under Udaipur conditions.